Scores of authors turned up to the biennial Irish Times Literature Prizes to support their fellow writers who had been nominated in the five categories of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, Irish language, and international fiction.
Michael Longley, who won the poetry prize, said Seamus Heaney had sent him a message of congratulation for his much-garlanded book, The Weather in Japan. "He said, referring to the title, that it never rains but it pours."
Longley is halfway through a new book, which will be called Snow Water. "The Chinese contend that the best water for making tea is melted snow," he explained.
Poet Dennis O'Driscoll was in celebratory mood, having just received the first copies of his new book, a prose collection entitled Troubled Thought, Majestic Dreams.
Gerard Dawe, of Trinity's Oscar Wilde Centre for Creative Writing, was carrying his copy of a newly-purchased copy of Antoinette Quinn's biography of Patrick Kavanagh. "This is the definitive biography," he declared. As he spoke, Anthony Cronin came over, and spotted the book. "I'll be launching that sometime towards the end of the month," Kavanagh's old acquaintance announced.
Novelist Eamon Delaney was being cautiously optimistic about the recent interest he has received from television about his recent non-fiction book, An Accidental Diplomat. He is also two years into a new novel, based round four characters and set in the years "facing into the boom".
Anne Haverty, a member of the judging panel, was meditating on the title for her next novel. "I'd like to call it Eating Green Paper, but I don't think the publishers are too keen."
Helen Carey, director of the Galway Arts Centre, had her thoughts set on C·irt 2002. "The theme of the festival next year will be 'land'," she said. "And the performance element of the festival will grow."
Poet Mary O'Malley is currently "working on a memoir". A book called The Irish Spirit had been launched the previous night, in which O'Malley had had an essay about pilgrimage. "It'll probably form part of the memoir eventually."
Poet Richard Murphy, whose memoirs will be published next year, had travelled from South Africa with his daughter, Emily. The draft of The Kick has been delivered to editor Neil Belton. "We're working on it together now." he said. Publication is due on May 19th - Emily's birthday.
Broadcaster Seamus Hosey, producer of the Book On One, is already on the case. "Richard has agreed to read from his book for the programme," he confirmed.
Apart from Murphy's memoirs, Neil Belton is also excited about another writer he will be publishing next year. "Ciaran Carson has written a translation of Dante's Inferno; the first Irish writer to do so."
Cathal ╙ Searcaigh, winner of the Irish language prize for Ag Tn·th Leis an tSolas, was wearing a velvet cap from the country which has inspired his next book - Nepal. "I'm thinking of calling it Guru na gCnoc i gCatmandu," he said, rolling the Gs with a Donegal relish. Poet Micheβl ╙ Conghaile, who is currently writer in residence at Queen's, is working on a novella, "about an old man who's failed in life," he confessed.
Angela Bourke, who won the non-fiction prize for The Burning of Bridget Cleary, is already at work on her next project. "I'm writing a biography of Maeve Brennan," she said. "Well, not really a biography; more like cultural studies, contextualising her life." Publisher Robin Roberston, who edits the poetry list for Jonathan Cape, also edits some of its fiction list.
He was excited by the forthcoming novel from one of his authors, Scottish novelist Alan Warner, who has recently come to live in Dublin. It would appear that Dublin is still perceived as a city where writers flourish.
